Reproducibility of maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing for young cystic fibrosis patients

Abstract

Background
The reproducibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has not been established in young cystic fibrosis (CF) patients using a valid protocol.

Methods
Thirteen 7–18year olds completed three CPETs, separated by 48h and 4–6weeks. CPET involved a ramp-incremental cycling test with supramaximal verification.

Results
Maximal oxygen uptake was repeatedly determined with no learning effect and typical errors expressed as a coefficient of variation (TECV%) of 9.3% (48h) and 13.3% (4–6weeks). The reproducibility of additional parameters of aerobic function [gas exchange threshold (TECV%: 11.2%, 16.8%); O2 mean response time (TECV%: 37.8%, 89.4%); O2 gain (TECV%: 17.4%, 24.5%)] and clinical utility [e.g. SaO2% (TECV%: 2.2%, 3.1%); ventilatory drive (E/CO2-slope) (TECV%: 7.8%, 17.7%)] was also established over the short- and the medium-term, respectively.

Conclusion
These results establish limits of variability to determine meaningful changes over the short- and the medium-term for CPET outcomes in young CF patients.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Zoe L. Saynor: orcid.org/0000-0003-0674-8477

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